Ipswich hockey star George Pinner was today reflecting on a ‘missed opportunity’ after England lost out on a Euro Hockey Championships bronze medal on Sunday.

Leading 2-1 against the Netherlands, England were unable to hold on in Belgium with Pinner conceding some of the blame should lay at his door.

Jeroen Hertzberger’s hat-trick did the damage against a relatively inexperienced team, much-changed after several English retirements from Team GB’s 2012 Olympics squad.

And while the future looks bright for coach Bobby Crutchley’s squad, that is little consolation for Pinner right now.

“We made progress no doubt and we have won bronze at the World League Tournament in Malaysia and finished fourth in Europe,” said Pinner, who featured alongside fellow former Ipswich School pupil Harry Martin, who was dogged by a hamstring problem throughout the tournament.

“But at the moment it feels like a missed opportunity and I am pretty gutted.

“We played very well as a team but I could have done better for at least one of the goals and on any other day I would have saved it.

“Unfortunately it was just one of those things that happen. When a midfielder or a defender makes an error, there is always the chance to make amends, whereas that isn’t the case for a goalkeeper.

“In the grand scheme of things we have improved and learned a lot but to come away without a medal is disappointing.”

Germany, whose women beat England to win gold on Saturday, claimed another gold after they beat Belgium 3-1 in the final.